Performance seat cushion

ABSTRACT

A seat cushion for a seat in a high performance off-road racing vehicle. The seat cushion includes two foam layers, namely, a top thin foam layer and a bottom thick energy absorbing foam layer that are secured together, where the combination of the layers are capable of absorbing high energy Z-direction forces. In one non-limiting embodiment, the top layer is a methylenediphenyl isocyanate (MDI) polyurethane foam and is 12 mm thick, and the bottom layer is an open-cell energy absorbing urethane foam and is 38 mm thick.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of provisionalapplication 63/107,912, titled, Performance Seat Cushion, filed Oct. 30,2020.

BACKGROUND Field

This disclosure relates generally to a seat cushion and, moreparticularly, to a performance seat cushion for a seat in ahigh-performance off-road racing vehicle, where the seat cushionincludes a thin top polyurethane layer and a thick bottom energyabsorbing foam layer.

Discussion of the Related Art

Off-road racing is a form of motorsports that employs specially-modifiedhigh performance vehicles, such as trucks, cars, buggies, etc. Someforms of off-road racing include tracks having jumps, washboard runs,etc. where the vehicle often goes airborne at significant heights. Oftentimes when the vehicle lands, the suspension bottoms out creatingsignificant downward forces on the driver that may be absorbed by thedrivers spine, possibly causing spinal and other injuries.

The seats, sometimes referred to as racing shells, used in off-roadracing vehicles are usually a one-piece molded fiberglass or carbonfiber part that is wrapped in an upholstery, where foam pieces may beprovided between the fiberglass and upholstery at desirable locations.The seat is configured to conform to the driver and hold him/her asstationary as possible in response to lateral forces on the vehicleduring the racing. The bottom of the seat often includes a seat cushionthat provides some level of comfort and protection from Z-directionimpacts. High energy impact foams are known to be used in the art forthese seat cushions, such as those available from BSCI Energy ImpactSystems, Inc. of Mooresville, N.C., USA. However, injuries stillperiodically occur, and thus those and other seat cushions can beimproved to better protect the driver from large Z-direction impacts onthe vehicle.

SUMMARY

The following discussion discloses and describes a seat cushion for aseat in a high performance off-road racing vehicle. The seat cushionincludes two foam layers, namely, a top thin foam layer and a bottomthick energy absorbing foam layer that are secured together, where thecombination of the layers are capable of absorbing high energyZ-direction forces. In one non-limiting embodiment, the top layer is amethylenediphenyl isocyanate (MDI) polyurethane foam and is 12 mm thick,and the bottom layer is an open-cell energy absorbing urethane foam andis 38 mm thick.

Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a vehicle seat including an energyabsorbing seat cushion;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the seat cushion separated from the seatshown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the seat cushion separated from theseat shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following discussion of the embodiments of the disclosure directedto a seat cushion for a seat in a high performance off-road racingvehicle, where the seat cushion includes a thin top polyurethane layerand a thick bottom energy absorbing foam layer, is merely exemplary innature, and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure or itsapplications or uses. For example, as discussed, the seat cushion hasparticular application for a seat for a high performance off-road racingvehicle. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,the seat cushion may have application for other seats.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a vehicle seat 10 of the type that wouldbe provided in a vehicle used for off-road racing. The seat 10 generallyhas an ergonomic configuration that at least somewhat conforms to thedriver's body and holds the driver in the seat 10 in response toside-ways forces. The seat 10 is generally a one-piece molded fiberglassor carbon fiber part that is wrapped in an upholstery layer 12, wherefoam pieces of various thicknesses may be provided between thefiberglass and the upholstery layer 12 at desirable locations. The seat10 includes a seat back 14 having a head rest 16, side panels 18 and 20and a seat bottom 24 having a seat cushion 26 and a thigh support 28.

As will be discussed in detail below, the seat cushion 26 is designed toabsorb downward forces to provide protection for the driver from largeZ-direction impacts. FIG. 2 is an isometric view and FIG. 3 is across-sectional view of the seat cushion 26 separated from the seat 10.The seat cushion 26 has a general square configuration with roundedcorners 34 at a front edge 36 proximate the thigh support 28. In onenon-limiting embodiment, the front edge 36 is 335 mm wide, a rear edge38 is 350 mm wide and a side edge 40 is 315 mm deep. The seat cushion 26includes two foam layers, namely, a top thin foam layer 44 and a bottomthick energy absorbing foam layer 46 that are secured together, such asby a suitable glue, where the combination of the layers 44 and 46 iscapable of absorbing high energy Z-direction forces. In one non-limitingembodiment, the top foam layer 44 is a methylenediphenyl isocyanate(MDI) polyurethane foam and is 12 mm thick, and the bottom foam layer 46is an open-cell energy absorbing urethane foam, such as that availablefrom BSCI Energy Impact Systems, Inc. of Mooresville, N.C., USA, and is38 mm thick, so that the seat cushion 26 has an overall thickness of 50mm.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art willreadily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanyingdrawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat back; and aseat bottom including a seat cushion, said seat cushion including a topfoam layer and a bottom foam layer being of different foam materialsthat combine to absorb impact forces.
 2. The seat according to claim 1wherein the top foam layer is methylenediphenyl isocyanate (MDI)polyurethane foam.
 3. The seat according to claim 2 wherein the top foamlayer is 12 mm thick.
 4. The seat according to claim 1 wherein thebottom foam layer is an open-cell energy absorbing urethane foam.
 5. Theseat according to claim 4 wherein the bottom foam layer is 38 mm thick.6. The seat according to claim 1 wherein the seat cushion has a generalsquare configuration with rounded front corners.
 7. The seat accordingto claim 1 wherein a front edge of the seat cushion is 335 mm wide, arear edge of the seat cushion is 350 mm wide and a side edge of the seatcushion is 315 mm deep.
 8. The seat according to claim 1 wherein theseat cushion is 50 mm thick.
 9. The seat according to claim 1 whereinthe seat is a seat for a racing vehicle.
 10. The seat according to claim9 wherein the racing vehicle is an off-road racing vehicle.
 11. The seataccording to claim 1 wherein the seat is a molded fiberglass covered byan upholstery.
 12. A vehicle seat for an off-road racing vehicle, saidseat comprising: a seat back; and a seat bottom including a seatcushion, said seat cushion including a top methylenediphenyl isocyanate(MDI) polyurethane foam layer being 12 mm thick and a bottom open-cellenergy absorbing urethane foam layer being 38 mm thick that combine toabsorb impact forces.
 13. The seat according to claim 12 wherein a frontedge of the seat cushion is 335 mm wide, a rear edge of the seat cushionis 350 mm wide and a side edge of the seat cushion is 315 mm deep.
 14. Aseat cushion comprising a top methylenediphenyl isocyanate (MDI)polyurethane foam layer and a bottom open-cell energy absorbing urethanefoam layer.
 15. The seat cushion according to claim 14 wherein the seatcushion is 50 mm thick.
 16. The seat cushion according to claim 15wherein the top layer is 12 mm thick and the bottom layer is 38 mmthick.
 17. The seat cushion according to claim 14 wherein a front edgeof the seat cushion is 335 mm wide, a rear edge of the seat cushion is350 mm wide and a side edge of the seat cushion is 315 mm deep.
 18. Theseat cushion according to claim 14 wherein the seat cushion has ageneral square configuration with rounded front corners.
 19. The seatcushion according to claim 14 wherein the seat cushion is for a seat fora racing vehicle.
 20. The seat cushion according to claim 19 wherein theracing vehicle is in an off-road racing vehicle.